Owl stamp from Western Sahara

The Western Sahara is a disputed territory in North Africa, bordered by Morocco to the north, Algeria to the northeast, Mauritania to the east and south, and the Atlantic Ocean to the west. The Western Sahara has been on the United Nations list of non-self-governing territories since 1963 after a Moroccan demand, when it was a Spanish colony. In 1966, the UN called on Spain directly for the first time to decolonize the territory. After initially being violently opposed to decolonization, Spain began to give in and by 1974–75 issued promises of a referendum on independece. The UN attempted to settle these disputes through a visiting mission in late 1975, as well as a verdict from the International Court of Justice, which declared that Western Sahara has historical Links with Morrocco and Mauritania, but population of this territory possessed the right of self-determination.

Desert (Pharaoh) Eagle Owl (Bubo ascalaphus desertorum) 

Large, pale eared owl with yellow or orange eyes. Generally a pale tawny above with black and white markings. Throat white, chest and belly pale tawny to sandy, streaked with black. Race desertorum generally paler. Until recently included as a race of B.bubo with which it has been known to interbreed in parts of Syria and Palestine. However morphology, vocalisations, and DNA are distinct. Intermediates of the 2 races can be found in some areas. - www.owls.org

Release date: 1974